Atomizer type humidifiers for use in heating plants such as furnaces and the like



y 0, 1966 D. N. AURINGER 3,250,255

ATOMIZER TYPE HUMIDIFIERS FOR USE IN HEATING PLANTS SUCH AS FURNACES ANDTHE LIKE Filed May '2. 1965 N INVENTOR.

.DA/V/El- 1M AUX/N651? M5 ATTQZA/EX United States Patent 3,250,266ATOMIZER TYPE HUMIDIFIERS FOR USE IN HEATING PLANTS SUCH AS FURNACES ANDTHE LIKE Daniel N. Auringer, Box 61, Fox Lake, Ill. Filed May 7, 1965,Ser. No. 454,109 2 Claims. (Cl. 126-113) My invention relates toatomizer type humidifiers for use in heating plants such as furnaces andthe like for humidifying the hot air conducted from the heating plantfor circulation in the rooms of a building such as a home or the like.One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide ahumidifier of the construction hereinafter more fully set forth, whichis an integral unit for installation by one other than a skilledmechanic, in a heating plant, such as a furnace.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provisionof an atomizer comprising a drain cup within which is arranged theatomizing means, the latter being so arranged as to produce a mist-likespray whereby such of the spray as is not evaporated by the heat fromthe heating plant, will fall into the cup and be drained therefrom.

Yet another object of this invention is in the provision in a device ofthis character of a means for deflecting the movement of the warm airaway from the discharge end of an atomizer nozzle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an atomizertype humidifier which is of simple construction and one which can bemanufactured at an economical cost and be installed in a heating plant.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical part-sectional detail view of the invention showingthe same installed in a heating plant;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially online 22 of FIG. 1.

The heating plant with which my invention is intended to be associatedmay be the conventional hot air heater utilized for heating a home orthe like. It is intended that my improved humidifier have the atomizerportion thereof located within the heating plant in the path of theoutgoing heated air, thus to humidity the air through evaporation.

In the drawings which show the preferred form of construction of myinvention, a wall of such a heating plant is illustrated in FIG. 1. Thiswall has formed therein an opening 11 normally closed by a plate 12.Abutting the plate 12 is the flange 13 of a cover 14. The flange 13 andthe plate 12 are secured to the furnace wall 10 by means of threadedstuds 15. The cover 14 PI'OVlClCS an enclosure for an electricalsolenoid water-supply control 16 of any conventional type forcontrolling the flow of water through a conduit 17. I have not disclosedany specific construction of the solenoid control because any suitablecontrol may be used for the intended purpose.

The water is supplied to the conduit 17 by a supply pipe 18. The conduit17 extends into the heating plant and at its interior end portion has anupturned end 19 which is connected in any suitable manner to a tube 20.The tube 20 projects into an inverted truncated shaped cup 21. The cup21 is of a size which permits the same to be inserted through theopening 11 when the humidifier unit is installed with respect to theheating plant.

Within the cup 21 and supported by the tube 20 is an atomizer head 22including a threaded stud 23 which is 3,250,266 Patented May 10, 1966threaded into the upper end portion of the tube 20. The atomizer headincludes a suitable spray nozzle or tip 24 which has a restrictedorifice 24' for producing a spray of water. The nozzle 24 effectsprojection of the spray of fine particles of water in the form of amist. Such of the particles of water as are not evaporated by the heatedair will fall into the cup 21. To drain such entrapped water I provide adrain pipe 25 which has oneend portion extending through the bottom 26of the cup 21 and the opposite end portion extending through the plate12 and cover 14, as shown in FIG. 1.

To complete the invention there is provided a switch 27 which is carriedby a wall of the cover 14 and has connection with circuit wires 28 whichcontrol the energization of the solenoid 16. The circuit wires 28 areintended to be connected in circuit with a thermostat located in thebuilding. Such thermostat is not shown as it constitutes no part of mypresent invention.

The solenoid 16 could also be connected by the circuit wires 28 to ablower which is an integral part of the heating unit, so as to humiditythe warm or heated air as it is forced through the duct thereof.

The advantages of locating the atomizer within the cup 21 reside in thefact that the shape of the cup 21 will deflect the heated air away fromthe nozzle 24 and prevent excess crystallization of mineral depositsthereon, and that the trapped water which has fallen into the cup 21will be carried through the drain pipe 25 and thus prevent formation ofmineral deposits in the heating plant.

From the foregoing description, it is clear that I have provided asimple atomizer type humidifier of economical manufacture which may bequickly and easily installed in the heating plant and which will beeffective for its intended purpose. When the unit is sold, it is sold asan integral unit and installed in the heating plant as such. Thecomponent parts are made of such material as will best serve thepurpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, thisis capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with the outer wall of a hot air furnace having anopening formed therein,

(a) a plate closing said opening,

(b) an enclosure having a flange abutting the plate,

(0) means for connecting said flange and said plate to said furnacewall,

(d) a water supply conduit carried by and extending through saidenclosure and said plate and having an interior end portion extending ina vertical direction, (e) an inverted truncated cup carried by said endportion of said conduit,

(f) an atomizer arranged in said cup and carried by said conduit, g) adrain pipe communicating with said cup and extending through said plateand said enclosure,

(11) said cup being of a diameter to permit insertion of said cupthrough said opening when installed in said furnace.

2. In combination with the outer wall of a hot air furnace having anopening formed therein,

(a) a plate closing said opening,

(b) an enclosure having a flange abutting the plate,

(c) means for connecting said flange and said plate to said furnacewall,

(d) a Water supply conduit carried by and extending through saidenclosure and said plate and having an interior end portion extending ina vertical direction,

(e) an inverted truncated cup carried by said end portion of saidconduit,

(if) an atomizer arranged in said cup and carried by said conduit,

(g) a drain pipe communicating with said cup and eX- tending throughsaid plate and said enclosure,

- (h) said cup being of a diameter to permit insertion of said cupthrough said opening when installed in said furnace,

(i) and means arranged in said enclosure for controlling the flow ofwater through said conduit to said atomizer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,165 3/1938Brintnall 126-113 2,177,111 10/1939 Hubbard 126-113 2,303,948 12/1942Morris 126-113 3,102,531 9/1963 Gross 126-113 JAMES W. WESTHAVER,Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH THE OUTER WALL OF A HOT AIR FURNACE HAVING ANOPENING FORMED THEREIN, (A) A PLATE CLOSING SAID OPENING, (B) ANENCLOSURE HAVING A FLANGE ABUTTING THE PLATE, (C) MEANS FOR CONNECTINGSAID FLANGE AND SAID PLATE TO SAID FURNACE WALL, (D) A WATER SUPPLYCONDUIT CARRIED BY AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ENCLOSURE AND SAID PLATEAND HAVING AN INTERIOR END PORTION EXTENDING IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION,(E) AN INVERTED TRUNCATED CUP CARRIED BY SAID END PORTION OF SAIDCONDUIT, (F) AN ATOMIZER ARRANGED IN SAID CUP AND CARRIED BY SAIDCONDUIT, (G) A DRAIN PIPE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CUP AND EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID PLATE AND SAID ENCLOSURE,